Li-ion battery anode properties of Si-carbon nanocomposites fabricated by high energy multiring-type mill

By combining two successive dry-milling processes, using a multiring mill and a pin-type disintegrator, downsizing of Si powders was achieved to 50 nm crystallites and their aggregated mean volume diameter ca. 100 nm, with the top size less than 400 nm. These Si nanoparticles were applied to obtain Si/carbon nanocomposites. The composite exhibits better cyclability when they were applied to Li-ion battery anode, compared with conventional micron-sized Si/carbon systems'. Mechanisms for improved anode performance were explained in terms of the downsizing of Si in the process of composite fabrication. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.